
Founded 30 years ago in 1989, the ICEHOTEL® in Jukkasjärvi, Swedish Lapland, has become renowned for its impressive artwork and designs, with new rooms being built from scratch each year by designers and artists from around the world. Each year thousands of blocks of ice are carved and sculpted to make the fantastic designs come to life.
This year the ICEHOTEL® jury has chosen 15 teams of artists from 126 applications to bring their designs to life for ICEHOTEL® number 30. As well as this three teams have received a special invitation to create the new main and ceremony hall as well as the Icebar in the year-round area of the ICEHOTEL 365.
"White Santorini", art suite created by Haeme Han and Jaeyual Lee
From a room based on a West End London Theatre, to a fairground celebrating 30 years of frozen fun in Jukkasjärvi and even the frozen landscape of White Santorini, these are just some of the designs that guests can look forward to for winter 2019/20.
"Torneland", Icebar created by Luc Voisin and Mathieu Brison
In fact, many of this year’s art suites have focused on celebrating the ICEHOTEL® and its relationship with the Torne River. For example, Natsuki Munakata and Shingo Saito have designed ‘Kaleidoscope’. They explain:
“The Torne River’s ice is strong like a stone and shines like a jewel. To bring out the beauty of the ice, this suite is inspired by the cutting technic and pattern by Edo-Kiriko, a traditional Japanese glass craft technic.”
"Kaleidoscope", art suite created by Natsuki Munakata and Shingo Saito
Artist Francisco Cortés Zamudio has also taken influence from the Torne River with his design ‘Echo’s – of the Torne River’, with his piece designed to “…transport visitors to a moment beyond time, in which the Torne River under my feet sang and murmured the sound and form of this room.”
"Echo's - Of the Torne River", art suite created by Francisco Cortés Zamudio
Meanwhile, Nicolas Triboulot and Jean-Marie Guitera have created the stunning ‘Golden Ice’ suite which is aimed at showing how the priceless nature of water to mankind because of its richness and its life, making it almost like gold and something that needs to be taken care of.
"Golden Ice", art suite created by Nicolas Triboulot and Jean-Marie Guitera
Elsewhere artists Marjolein Vonk and Maurizio Perron have created ‘The Day After’, a fun suite playing on the idea of the ICEHOTEL’s anniversary by featuring the world-famous chandelier of hotel appearing on the floor and a champagne cork stuck in the ceiling.
"The Day After", art suite created by Marjolein Vonk and Maurizio Perron
To commemorate the 30th iteration of this incredible hotel this winter there will be a viewing platform made of ice and snow outside of the hotel for guests to admire the surrounding landscape and in particular the Torne River, where all the ice for the hotel comes from. Creative director Luca Roncoroni explains:
“This is our way to honour where we come from. Without Torne, we wouldn’t be celebrating 30 years of fantastic art work and unforgettable memories.”
"Warm Up", art suite created by Tomasz Czajkowski and Aleksandra Pasek
With the first snow expected to reach Jukkasjärvi around mid-November, it won’t be long until the construction of ICEHOTEL® number 30 begins in preparation for the doors officially opening on December 13th 2019!
Click here to find out more about our holidays to the ICEHOTEL®